Airworthiness Directives; Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH Model HFB 320 HANSA Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH Model HFB 320 HANSA airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the HFB 320 Hansa Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit operation of the airplane past its designed life limit for the primary structure, which is 15,000 flight hours or 15,000 fight cycles, whichever occurs first; and to require contacting the FAA for approval of analysis that the airplane is safe to continue operation beyond the designed life limit. This AD results from a report that all airplanes in operation might have met or exceeded the designed life limit for the primary structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent continued operation of an airplane beyond its designed life limit for the primary structure, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.